Intruder, theft and vandalism deterrent management system for controlling a parking area

Abstract

A parking area control and management system employs a card reader, which reads identification information from a card commonly carried by a person, such as a driver's license or credit card. A record is made of the identification information upon entrance of a vehicle into the parking area. The person may subsequently leave the parking area on foot and regain entry to the parking area by presenting the same card. Later, the same card is used to exit the parking area, via the vehicle, and to validate that the same person is leaving with the vehicle. The parking area control and management system also includes sensors, such as loop detectors and electric eyes, to determine if a second vehicle or a pedestrian follows behind a vehicle entering into, or exiting from, the parking area. The parking area control and management system can be used to manage existing loop detectors and electric eyes, that normally control door and gate safety access systems, and to integrate those devices into an alarm system, such that an alert is issued whenever an abnormal or unauthorized event occurs during operations.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of Applicant's prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 131,029, filed on Apr. 25, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 644,901, filed on Aug. 24, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,784. The contents of the parent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a system for controlling access to, and egress from, a parking area.[0004]2. Description of the Relevant Art[0005]Private and public parking areas, such as garages and lots, are common in urban and suburban areas. Often the entrance to, and exit from, the parking area are monitored and / or controlled. Various systems are known to perform the monitoring and / or controlling functions of the parking area. Such systems range in complexity, such as from simple, manned attendant booths, to semi-automated parking pass systems, to fully automated parking s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which deters vandalism and theft of parked vehicles, as well as assaults and robberies of parking patrons, by issuing an alert signal when an unauthorized vehicle or person attempts to enter or exit the parking area.

[0021]It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which deters vandalism of parked vehicles and / or theft of objects from parked vehicles.

[0022]It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which saves money and time for parking service providers.

[0023]It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking control system, which is more convenient and less objectionable to parking area patrons.

Problems solved by technology

Such systems range in complexity, such as from simple, manned attendant booths, to semi-automated parking pass systems, to fully automated parking systems.

The first known system suffers drawbacks.

Another drawback is that many people object to placing indicia on their vehicles.

The second known system also suffers drawbacks.

Often, a person does not want to carry the parking slip on their person because it is inconvenient to do so.

Further, the person may fear losing the parking slip and having to pay the maximum parking fee.

Another drawback to the above system is that a new parking slip must be issued every time a vehicle is parked.

This wastes natural resources and costs the parking service provider money.

Unfortunately, the third known system also suffers drawbacks.

Further, if a person frequents several different parking areas, managed by different service providers, the problem is exacerbated, since each parking service provider will issue their own unique plastic parking card.

Another drawback to the third known system is that it takes time and money to issue a parking card.

The plastic cards and machine to encode the cards are expensive to the parking service operator.

Further, if a person is patronizing a parking area for the first time, it is a hassle to fill out an application form and wait for a parking card to be issued.

Many people also object to the personal information that must be provided in order to obtain the parking card, and worry that the information will be sold to telemarketers and direct mailers.

Yet another drawback is that the third known system is only cost effective to issue parking cards to repeat, or monthly, parking patrons.

Issuing a parking card to a onetime parking patron would add significantly to the price charged for a day of parking, and / or detract significantly from the profits of the parking service provider.

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